EVEN as personalities like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NCP (S-P) chief Sharad Pawar and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who are known for their oratory skills were present, 86-year-old Tara Bhavalkar stole the limelight as she emphasised the role of Marathi language and the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in the modern world during the inauguration of the 98th Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in New Delhi on Friday.
“When the Sahitya Sammelan started, it was considered to be one which belonged to few select classes of people…Mahatma Phule had criticised the sammelan, saying it belongs to the upper class and has nothing to do with the labour class….Today, it has become all-encompassing,” said Bhavalkar, the current president of the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.
Bhavalkar debunked those who called themselves educated, but do not have wisdom. She said after the British era ended, a question that was being discussed was who should be called the educated? “It was believed that those who can read and write are educated. …After the British era, schools and colleges were set up and people started learning. The labour class and women started learning. Till that time, it was thought that all are uneducated. Today, if someone has not attended school, he is termed as illiterate…. However, just reading and writing does not mean that one has wisdom. An educated person without wisdom is meaningless,” she said.
Bhavalkar’s speech went down well with the crowd as they applauded her fulsome.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were impressed by her oratory and knowledge of the Marathi language. ”Chhaan (good..,” the Prime Minister told her. “When I said ‘chhaan’ to her, she replied in Gujarati…,” said the Prime Minister. The Chief Minister said, “I don’t think I need to speak now that Tara Bhavalkar has delivered such an admirable speech and when the Prime Minister is still to speak,” he said.
Books drawing crowds…
Besides the octogenarian Tara Bhavalkar who won the hearts of the literary community as well as the people from different walks of life, books written in Marathi in different subjects also were lapped up by the visiting crowd. Several stalls have been set up at the Talkatora stadium–the main venue of the sahitya sammelan.
Among the best sellers include ‘Chhaava,’ written by Shivaji Sawant. The Hindi movie of the same name has created quite a buzz in the country. Even the Prime Minister made a mention of it during his speech at the Vigyan Bhavan.
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“We have almost run out of the ‘Chhaava’ copies…we will have to bring in more copies…Besides Chhaava, even ‘Mrutunjay,’ is also popular among the visitors,” said Balaji D of the Shivam Sahitya, a publishing house which has put up a stall at the Sahitya Sammelan venue.
BARTI (Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute) has also put up a stall at the venue. BARTI is selling books at nearly 70-80 per cent discount. The best seller book of BARTI was ‘The Constitution of India.’ Vaishnav Hazare, a student who is preparing for UPSC exam, said, “The cost of the book is nearly Rs 470 and I have got for Rs 70.”
One of the prominent visitors was P D Patil, Chancellor of the Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth. He went around the stalls and selected a few books. “I love reading books…I have selected a few of them,” Patil said as he interacted with the literary community.
Ramrao Satvekar, Narsinha Pant Wangmay Stall, Balekundri, Belgaum, said, “People are evincing interest in books especially the spiritual kind.”
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Sachin Dhankude of Kothrud, Pune, who has set up a stall to sell his books on election symbol said, “I am getting response from the crowd. I am explaining to them the futility of election symbols…I am happy that the sahitya sammelan has given me an opportunity to showcase my thoughts and ideas.”
